Transmission line spacer clamp

Abstract

A clamp for a utility line spacer includes a first jaw having a first clamping surface, a first aperture, and upper slot extending from the first aperture. A second jaw having a second clamping surface and an open-ended second aperture is connected to the first jaw. A first bushing is engaged with the first clamping surface of the first jaw. A second bushing is engaged with the second clamping surface of the second jaw. A fastener secures the first jaw relative to the first jaw. The first aperture is configured to receive the fastener in a first position and the upper slot is configured to permit rotation of the fastener relative to the first aperture to a second position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A clamp for a utility line spacer comprising:
 a first jaw having a first clamping surface, a first aperture, and upper slot extending from the first aperture;   a second jaw connected to the first jaw, the second jaw having a second clamping surface and an open-ended second aperture;   a first bushing engaged with the first clamping surface of the first jaw;   a second bushing engaged with the second clamping surface of the second jaw; and   a fastener for securing the first jaw relative to the first jaw,   wherein the first aperture is configured to receive the fastener in a first position and the upper slot is configured to permit rotation of the fastener relative to the first aperture to a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a bolt and a nut. 
     
     
         3 . The clamp of  claim 2 , wherein the first jaw includes a keeper pocket configured to receive the nut. 
     
     
         4 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw comprises an inner hinge member and the second jaw comprises an outer hinge member and the outer hinge member is pivotally connected to the inner hinge member by a pin. 
     
     
         5 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first aperture extends along a first axis and the upper slot extends along a second axis non-parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         6 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw includes a lower slot extending from the first aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to receive a plurality of different sized bushings. 
     
     
         8 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first bushing has a non-circular first inner surface and the second bushing has a non-circular second inner surface. 
     
     
         9 . The clamp of  claim 1  wherein the first jaw includes a ridge extending from the first aperture. 
     
     
         10 . A clamp for a utility line spacer comprising:
 a first jaw having a first clamping surface, a first aperture, and upper slot extending from the first aperture;   a second jaw connected to the first jaw, the second jaw having a second clamping surface and an open-ended second aperture;   a plurality of first bushings configured to be engaged with the first clamping surface of the first jaw;   a plurality of second bushings configured to be engaged with the second clamping surface of the second jaw; and   a fastener for securing the first jaw relative to the first jaw,   wherein the plurality of first bushing and the plurality of second bushings are selectively engaged with the first and second jaws dependent on the size of a transmission line to be held within the jaws.   
     
     
         11 . The clamp of  claim 10 , wherein the first aperture is configured to receive the fastener in a first position to clamp a transmission line having a first diameter and the upper slot is configured to permit rotation of the fastener relative to the first aperture to a second position to clamp a transmission line having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The clamp of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of first bushing include an inner surface configured to receive a different-sized transmission line. 
     
     
         13 . The clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the inner surfaces are non-circular. 
     
     
         14 . The clamp of  claim 10 , wherein the first aperture extends along a first axis and the upper slot extends along a second axis non-parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         15 . The utility line spacer of  claim 14 , wherein the first jaw includes a lower slot extending from the first aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The clamp of  claim 15 , wherein the first jaw includes a lower slot extending from the first aperture, wherein the lower slot extends along a third axis non-parallel to the first axis and the second axis. 
     
     
         17 . The clamp of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first bushings include a small bushing having a first non-round engagement surface with a first area and a large bushing having a second non-round engagement surface with a second area greater than the first area. 
     
     
         18 . A method of installing a clamp for a transmission line comprising:
 selecting a bushing from a group of bushings based on the size of a transmission line to be clamped;   installing the selected bushing by engaging it with a jaw on a clamp;   engaging the clamp with a transmission line to secure the transmission line in the clamp,   wherein the group of bushings includes a plurality of bushings with each bushing configured to receive a different sized transmission line, and   wherein the clamp is configured to receive each of the plurality of bushings.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the clamp includes a first jaw receiving the bushing and a second jaw, wherein engaging the clamp with the transmission line includes securing the first jaw relative to the second jaw with a fastener, and wherein the angle of the fastener relative to the first jaw when the transmission line is secured is dependent on the selected bushing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the group of bushings include a first bushing having a first non-round engagement surface with a first area and a second bushing having a second non-round engagement surface with a second area greater than the first area.